Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Bounty and Ghoul
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“Fifty-fifty split! ”
Initially, the agreement was seventy-thirty during temporary recruitment.
During the mission, due to Han Dong’s correct inference and speculation about the existence of escape passages in the basement, Cass increased the split to forty percent.
Subsequently, with Han Dong’s assistance, only one ghoul was released and singlehandedly executed by Han Dong’s unique power.
Cass Martini, after turning in the bounty mission, handed half a bag of hefty copper coins to Han Dong directly at the church entrance.
“So much?” asked Han Dong, somewhat surprised. This bag of copper coins had at least a hundred or so.
“Without you and your help Andwa, not only would I have been unable to complete the mission, I might even have faced danger to my life. This is what you deserve… Furthermore, as per your request, I only mentioned my name when turning in the mission,” said Cass.
Cass didn’t question too much about why Han Dong insisted on staying hidden; after all, everyone has their secrets… Cass assumed that Han Dong was skipping out without leave, and if the academy found out, these bounties would have been received in vain.
“Hmm.”
Han Dong wasn’t sure how much value these half-bag of copper coins held.
“Friend Andwa, is your summoned creature a ‘Contract Type’ or ‘Mental Control Type’? Impressive!” he asked.
“The former,” Han Dong replied.
“It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that you were able to acquire the Fate Weapon!
Can I have a way to contact you? In the future, if there are any bounty missions that require teaming up, or during crucial ‘Fate Moments’, I can call upon you for assistance.
Although I did get hurt fighting the ghoul previously, I can still pack a punch when I get serious.”
It’s not that Han Dong didn’t want to team up.
Getting to know a Cross Crusader who already had 3 Fate Points allocated could be very beneficial for his future development.
But, he didn’t know how to answer this question.
Contact information usually meant contemporary communication methods.
However, in the normal course of history, communication during the Steam Era was still in the ‘paper mail’ stage… the telegraph only appeared during the early stages of the Second Industrial Revolution.
Han Dong had asked Nina about this before.
The answer he received was, in the Holy City of Nointana, ‘electricity’ did not exist yet, and naturally neither did the telegraph, or subsequent wireless communication.
Still, communication methods did exist.
In the special era, where the supernatural clashed with steam technology, humans in the apocalypse developed an alternative form of communication.
Copper pieces and gears were configured to output corresponding signals. ?Using the accurate magic array to identify signals and send them, they could achieve ‘instant transmission’ and ‘targeted send’.
In essence, it was a communication product born from the combination of magic and metal.
Han Dong didn’t know what it looked like.
Just as Han Dong didn’t know how to answer the question about ‘contact information’, Cass turned the knob of the clockwork device on his wrist with his thumb and index finger.
The clockwork device, which originally looked like a wristwatch, made a ‘tick-tock’ noise.
It folded and unfolded.
Precise copper buttons emerged from the inside, transforming the clockwork device into something that resembled an old-fashioned phone’s operation panel. Its keys from 1 to 9 felt similar to a typewriter.
Han Dong immediately mimicked Cass’s actions, and as expected, his clockwork device likewise morphed into an operating panel.
At the same time, a string of digital codes equivalent to a phone number was generated at the bottom of the device.
Thus, the two of them exchanged numbers, and Han Dong officially made the acquaintance of an ‘Apprentice Knight’.
At least, from the ghoul incident, it can be seen that Cass Martini is a good person and worth befriending.
“Well then, I have to rush to get this armor repaired. If anything comes up in the future, we’ll contact each other,” Cass said.
“Alright, goodbye,” responded Han Dong.
Truthfully, Han Dong, who had just left the Fate Space, hadn’t had a chance to study the clockwork device yet.
For now, he studied the device for quite some time. It seemed like an outstanding device which might have other functionalities… activated as Han Dong became an Apprentice Knight.
“Time to head home,” said Han Dong.
Using the status of Apprentice Knight, Han Dong left the church, crossed the heavily guarded Moslabi River, and returned to the familiar Samay Civilian Area.
Nina had already made the ‘Apprentice Knight’ home registration at the local security bureau, and their family was no longer bound by the strict rules of this area and could move out of the slums whenever they wanted.
Han Dong had just returned home.
Nina excitedly flung herself at him and embraced him tightly, her words barely coherent due to her exhilaration.
After all, the changes Han Dong had brought to this family were immense.
“Brother… do you know!? After you were taken away, Sheriff Dais personally came to apologize and gave us five copper coins! Now we don’t have to worry about what to eat.”
“Are five copper coins a lot?”
“A lot! Mom can only earn ten copper coins a year from her outside work… My master, if in a good mood, will give me a copper coin at the end of the month.”
Han Dong put the sack in his hands directly on the table.
As the sound of metal clashing emanated from the sack…Nina swayed a bit herself.
Han Dong casually said, “You and mom can use this money. If we are going to move to the other side of the Moslabi River, I guess we will need to replace all the old furniture, right?”
Nina did not respond.
Instead, she slowly approached the sack and took a look inside.
Stacks of copper coins, more than Nina had ever seen, even more than she could ever dream of.
She just stood there dumbfounded, unable to utter a word, and her gaze began to lose focus.
Finally, after a long while, Nina timidly murmured:
“Brother, did you… you didn’t rob someone with your newfound powers, did you..
“Don’t worry, the money was obtained through legitimate channels.”
“This… how much money is this!?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t count. Anyway, just keep it safe, I will come to you if I need some more. You can manage the rest as you see fit.”
“Brother… I, I.” Nina was so frantic she was on the verge of tears.
“Just count how much there is and keep it safe… After we move across the
Moslabi River, then we can spend it.”
“I, I know!!”
With the bag of money in hand, Nina looked around nervously for fear that strangers might discover this fortune. She then quickly headed to the bedroom she shared with her mother.
First, she counted the money piece by piece, then she stored the bag of money at the bottom of her closet.
As for Han Dong, he went back to his room as usual, locked the door… and waited until dinnertime when Nina would naturally come to call him.
Han Dong didn’t care much about the copper coins. As long as there were bounty missions, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. What Han Dong was interested in was this time’s [unexpected gain].
This ghoul incident was not just about earning a bounty.
Han Dong also acquired ‘Cell Essence’, a complete mature ghoul arm, and books related to ‘ghouls’ found by Chen Li at his residence.
(Chen Li didn’t understand English, but she could convey her visual images to Han Dong, who guided her in finding the relevant books.)
Han Dong read the books quickly as if he was reading a research document.
He finished reading the related books in a short time and simplified the information and collated it in a notebook.
[Ghoul]
Formation Reason: Graveyard work, mental degradation.
Common among graveyard workers or residents living around graveyards. When they are infected with graveyard fungus or Yin Qi penetrates their bodies, their bodies enters a ‘graveyard state’.
Commonly shows signs of anorexia, fear of sunlight, and social anxiety.
Upon discovery of these symptoms, it is essential to promptly go to the chapel and receive related holy sacraments… until the symptoms subside, one must not be near graveyards.
If not treated in time, the individual has a 70% chance of death, a 20% chance of going insane.
The remaining 10% will, during their dreams at night, establish a secretive mental connection with the ‘higher beings’ outside the city wall, thus receiving the influence of ‘Degeneration’, and transforming into a ghoul.
Newborn ghouls need to eat gloomy things such as graveyard moss, miscellaneous fungi, etc.
They have a strong appetite and are only active at night. Their green skin and the foul odour they emit make them easy to identify.
Once they have eaten enough and fully matured, ghouls will possess complete thinking abilities and will try to reproduce and establish a Ghoul Nest..